Mom/Sis are well, although Mom suffered from a short bout with vertigo. We worked around that, with Mom staying down and quiet for a day or so, but up and about on our last day with them. Donna usually fixes dinners and sometimes lunch for the four of us, so we were able to eat and enjoy each others company a lot! My sister has acquired a tabby cat, or perhaps it's the other way around, and it was a hoot watching Sasha and Felix stare at each other through the sliding glass door! I don't think that Felix has much fondness for dogs, and has learned to instantly go into an "inflate-a-cat" pose. Kinda reminiscent of Halloween, with back arched, tail at attention, and eyes big and round! They did find common ground near the end of the weekend, as long as there was a barrier between them!
We drove north through the Great Central Valley of California, once the primary source of vegetables for the entire United States. Now, it seems, most produce is grown out of the country and the central valley has suffered. Where once were vast fertile fields, dust drifts lazily across the road. Fields are being planted in fruit trees because they require less water. The historic water allotments, many dating back to Mexican Ranchos, have been decimated and the water diverted to Southern California, where ever growing cities cry for water like baby birds in a nest.
As we drove north on the last leg of our long journey, we reflected on the places we've seen and the people we've met. Big Bend National Park in Texas with it's vast emptiness, huge petroleum refineries in Houston and Galveston, plantation estates in Louisiana, incredible sunsets in the Florida Keys, magnificent mansions in St Augustine, Savannah, and Charleston. History by the bucket full, particularly Civil War era, was difficult to avoid, and we soaked it up as much as possible! Even on our journey home through Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico, a route we've traveled in the past, continues to provide new inspiration for the open road.
Our country is beautiful, with a diverse landscape, but more than that, the people in our fine nation are our strength. We renewed friendships along the way with Ted and Phyllis in Tucson, Jan and Richard in North Carolina, and Dale and Lisa from Michigan who were "just passing" through Chattanooga, Tennessee!
New friends were made in Tucson, where Bill and Susan provided us with much information gathered from their years of full time traveling, and in Big Bend, with Dan and Ann becoming traveling companions off and on until our paths split in Florida. In Savannah and Charleston, we were beguiled by a Boston Terrier named Spud and his family, Jim and Linda. We spent several days with them and enjoyed a lot of fresh watermelon from the home of the Watermelon Festival, Hampton County, South Carolina! On the Space Coast of Florida, we met Larry and Debra and their owner, Max, a Pug of just about Sasha's size! Max and Sasha became fast friends, as did we with Larry and Debra. They helped us out in a time of need, and we shall not soon forget their generosity. We enjoyed a lot of conversation with Frank and Lourdes in Gaffney, South Carolina, where we were both have service work performed on our motorhomes. Free camping was offered in the back lot of the facility, so we stretched our visit to a week!
In Oklahoma, Donna rekindled her friendship with a second cousin, Barbara, who is battling a rare and severe health issue. Barbara is doing so with good grace, a positive attitude, and the unfailing help of her daughter Kanda, and her son, Scott. We're keeping her in our thoughts and prayers.
So, after 10,422 miles, 1,170 gallons of fuel, and nine months and one day, we have circled back home with uncountable memories. Worth every penny!
We are prepping for our annual desert dune buggy trip, and thinking about the holidays. We're taking a short trip to Arizona after the first of the year, but must be home for our second Granddaughter's high school graduation! And, whenever we have a moment, we think...just a little...about next years' trip!
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